Along the Electric Way.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 June 1911, Page 4

Along the Electric Way.

FUTURE OF THE UNIVERSAL POWER. (By EDGAR LUCIEN LARIvIN, in the "American Weekly"). The discovery, isolation, deter.mjnation :of mass, potential and specific speed of electrons were the crowning events of the last few daj's of nineteenth and first of the tweniech century. A discovery in mind, of what it is, or even a clue to wlnt it is ; \Vould have been so far more magnificent that no comparison could \,c made, but none was made. : The advauices now being made hourly in practical electricity—that is, in actual use—are in ever increasing ratio. In every branch ol industry, the wondrous entity, electricity, is finding its welcome way A number, of. late applications a/re here given.' given. Tho trajisniisfiion 'of electri .'..il waves, impulses and oscillations is working many changes in the use of electric force .at a distance without wires. 'Miese waves are as completely under control as is the flow of stream or water. Tuning, harmonic adjustment, between transmitter and receiver of space waves is as accurate, if not more so, than tuning of piano wires or organ reeds. So many millions of different lengths and, rates of oscillation of waves are possible that an indefinite number, sufficient for the needs of man for centuries probably, can be made in wireless telegraphy and telephony that interference can be avoided. Others can.not cut- out the vibrations to read 1 and hear, so that privacy is assured in transmission and reception of messages. • This synchronism auul freedom from disturbance are the basis of absolute transmission of music. A million persons, scattered over wide areas, can nojv hear a- song or any kind of instrumental harmonies. The application of this mode of transmission seems to have no limits. An operatic singer could be heard from San Francisco to the, entire Pacific coast, likewise a speech. This at present is performed by transmission oyer wires, hilt the vast expanses of territory" ovo which vocal a>nd instumental waves can 'be sent by ,wireless methods are in sight. All within the limits of receivers will be able to Iveair tuneful strains; likewise .politics galore in the henght ol an exciting contest for President). MILLIONS FOR WATER POWER, Huge masses of metal in rapid revolution in the form of .high tension altetrnatingg current generators, far away in frigid mountain fastnesses," with water wheels labourino; in waters wild and cold, can semi light and warmth to entire cities in distant plains below and move every wheel therein. The amount of capital now going into water machinery is (greater than ever before known. Every mountain stream will be chained to electric work in duo time. The lugli pressure transformers and rotary convetes, handling currents alternating at great rapidity,, and at, terrific pressure or voltage, over long, thin cross-country wires, have made possible the conveyances of great rower over peaks and canyons. • The entire Scandinavian regionSweden, Norway and Finland — is being covered with a veritable network of high potential transmission wires; Switzerland and Germany likewise. Melting snow in the Alps furnishes light- and the glow of genial, warmth to opera houses and ballrooms in all the great German centres of music, refinement and culture. All of Europe is being strung with wires, some parts of Asia, Africa and South America, while North America is simply going to electricity. Could the reader be elevated in an airship, and secure one view of the electrical outfit in the United States then would his imagination be overwhelmed. Billions of dollars are

"going into electricity," so the expression runs. Farms, ranches, dairies, poultry yards, stock farms, widely eparated house, lonely mines in desert wastes and mountain wildernesses are now part of electric systems, all joined as are the parts of a huge mechanism. Over 0000 distinct uses of electricity can be enumerated. Motors range in dimensions from minute machines in. the manufacture of

wheels, and screws in watches, up and up through all sizes to gigantic motors ; in..:,electric railways, steel works and liuge pumps raising water for. the needs of large cities; from tiny, forms in,dental shops to colossal work's of hydraulic engineering. 'Those" mighty works, the Owens river aqueduct,, the Panama canal, the great tunnels under the Alps and Rockv mountains, beneath New Chicago, and Philadelphia, and under the Hudson and Seine, could, not,.have bren wrought without alternating tvMv-urssion r.f electricity, at high pv/v.-s-cre and th« mystical process r-f stepping down the pressure to safety ?o that man can use it without instant death.

MANY INVENTIONS. Transformation of electricity from low ..to high for transmission to great' distance's and from high to low for local use is one. of. the triumphs' of mind over matter, or over electricity, the unknown. For it ia tantalising to be constantly using a.n entity, an. varied ways hour after hour /without one idea as to what it is.

: Wireless transmission is now so complex, the manipulation, so intricate, so comprehensive, that it is a. science' by itself. Trie rescue of sinking ships by others summoned in haste by'wireless -calls for aid fironi all latitudes and longitudes within radii of hundreds of miles is another, achievement of -great import', one, impressive and awe-inspir-ing.-, ' '" Rranley, the inventor of a coherer in wireless; transmission, has shown that he,;; ban "start,and regulate Cmaohinery,' discharge operate: mines, .'startJbhe,lamps in liffht 'towers,'etc!.-ji'' by .wireless at the great distance of .lot) miles, .and that a system of reflected Waves will, enable 'him to observe: resulting operations.'' From this it will be -osfiiWe.'for one mail' to activate wary machine;in a, large : city -by wireless and; regulate every motion. Many 'kinds of neAy alloys of metalsj rreally. new ihetals, wire now compounded, vby electi-icity, and metals.'are'jacendered free from all impurities" ■; , ,-__. • ..... .■.:•■■'■' .;'The';man,ufaoture of new com-pou-h)d4; (Chemically by electric ways is; a snm, jiil'diiiistry;. qf' ever-increasing inrpoi'tahce.. ; - Electrically' propelled submarines .are.now.._.almost perfect, .in control, and the times of submergence iii •safety are , Wireless "transmission from aeroplanes to each other and to land and sea is a. theme for wonders greater than those exploited: in: the -'-Arabian -Night"; likewise the sending of pictures,by,wires. , Lifting of;.tons of iron in shops amd foundries, by ,raeans of electroh'agnets arid transportation on electric lifts and cranes have revolu'i tionised modern manufactories.

just delivered nine electric ! [ loconiotaves to the Pacifii JRailrdiad : Company weighinig 312,(X)0 pmindf eadh'.'; : " ''-All railways will be electrized in ''si', few _ years. ?v Eleefcrote^hjnics, r en:gine«rini!y. are •^Oomplex. beyond,, comparison. ".Elecijfcricity" is destined fe Jb&bme' man's i uhirereal power. -"'